Trouble for Karnataka govt: Minister denies power-sharing formula

The minister not only denied the power-sharing formula, but also said that Siddaramaiah will continue to be the chief minister of the state for five years.

"Siddaramaiah will be the chief minister for the entire 5 years. Had there been any talk on power-sharing, the top leadership of the party would have definitely told us. There is no such proposal. Our AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal also did not give any such information that day," he told reporters here after visiting Suttur Mutt.

In his address to the media in New Delhi, Venugopal had dismissed rumours about the power-sharing formula in Karnataka. He had said: "The only power sharing is with the people of Karnataka," he said.

On May 19, however, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had not denied the power-sharing formula, but said he cannot share Congress party's confidential details. He had also said that the party will take a decision on his possibility of becoming chief minister.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah had a faceoff for CM's post after the Congress party registered a thumping victory in Karnataka assembly elections. The party high command had to struggle a lot to persuade Shivakumar for DyCM's post.

The news was also making rounds that Shivakumar had accepted DyCM's post for the time being after getting assurance of CM's post later. In such a situation, Patil's latest statement has all the potential of creating problems for the Congress again in the state.